asharalo55: April 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

This Is How NASA Is Testing the Supersonic Airplanes of the Future

This might look like some kind of space ship?but it's actually a model of a supersonic Boeing airliner, being tested in NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

The NASA team is working out how to reduce the incredible amount of noise that a supersonic airliner generates. NASA explains:

"We are testing overall vehicle design and performance options to reduce emissions and noise, and identifying whether the volume of sonic booms can be reduced to a level that leads to a reversal of the current ruling that prohibits commercial supersonic flight over land."

That's why the engines are on top of the plane?to shield the ground from noise?and also explains the presence of the funky V-tail channels. They help direct the sonic boom the aircraft creates backwards, to give it longer to dissipate and in turn protect our little ears down on the surface of the Earth. Good job, NASA. [NASA via New Scientist]

Image by NASA

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5995499/this-is-how-nasa-is-testing-the-supersonic-planes-of-the-future

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Researchers design nanometer-scale material that can speed up, squeeze light

Apr. 29, 2013 ? In a process one researcher compares to squeezing an elephant through a pinhole, researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology have designed a way to engineer atoms capable of funneling light through ultra-small channels.

Their research is the latest in a series of recent findings related to how light and matter interact at the atomic scale, and it is the first to demonstrate that the material -- a specially designed "meta-atom" of gold and silicon oxide -- can transmit light through a wide bandwidth and at a speed approaching infinity. The meta-atoms' broadband capability could lead to advances in optical devices, which currently rely on a single frequency to transmit light, the researchers say.

"These meta-atoms can be integrated as building blocks for unconventional optical components with exotic electromagnetic properties over a wide frequency range," write Dr. Jie Gao and Dr. Xiaodong Yang, assistant professors of mechanical engineering at Missouri S&T, and Dr. Lei Sun, a visiting scholar at the university. The researchers describe their atomic-scale design in the latest issue of the journal Physical Review B.

The researchers created mathematical models of the meta-atom, a material 100 nanometers wide and 25 nanometers tall that combined gold and silicon oxide in stairstep fashion. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter and visible only with the aid of a high-power electron microscope.

In their simulations, the researchers stacked 10 of the meta-atoms, then shot light through them at various frequencies. They found that when light encountered the material in a range between 540 terahertz and 590 terahertz, it "stretched" into a nearly straight line and achieved an "effective permittivity" known as epsilon-near-zero.

Effective permittivity refers to the ratio of light's speed through air to its speed as it passes through a material. When light travels through glass, for instance, its effective permittivity is 2.25. Through air or the vacuum of outer space, the ratio is one. That ratio is what is typically referred to as the speed of light.

As light passes through the engineered meta-atoms described by Gao and Yang, however, its effective permittivity reaches a near-zero ratio. In other words, through the medium of these specially designed materials, light actually travels faster than the speed of light. It travels "infinitely fast" through this medium, Yang says.

The meta-atoms also stretch the light. Other materials, such as glass, typically compress optical waves, causing diffraction.

This stretching phenomenon means that "waves of light could tunnel through very small holes," Yang says. "It is like squeezing an elephant through an ultra-small channel."

The wavelength of light encountering a single meta-atom is 500 nanometers from peak to peak, or five times the length of Gao and Yang's specially designed meta-atoms, which are 100 nanometers in length. While the Missouri S&T team has yet to fabricate actual meta-atoms, they say their research shows that the materials could be built and used for optical communications, image processing, energy redirecting and other emerging fields, such as adaptive optics.

Last year, Albert Polman at the FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics in Amsterdam and Nader Engheta, an electrical engineer at the University of Pennsylvania, developed a tiny waveguide device in which light waves of a single wavelength also achieved epsilon-near-zero. But the Missouri S&T researchers' work is the first to demonstrate epsilon-near-zero in a broadband of 50 terahertz.

"The design is practical and realistic, with the potential to fabricate actual meta-atoms," says Gao. Adds Yang: "With this research, we filled the gap from the theoretical to the practical."

Through a process known as electron-beam deposition, the researchers have built a thin-film wafer from 13 stacked meta-atoms. But those materials were uniform in composition rather than arranged in the stairstep fashion of their modeled meta-atoms.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Missouri University of Science and Technology. The original article was written by Andrew Careaga.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Lei Sun, Jie Gao, Xiaodong Yang. Broadband epsilon-near-zero metamaterials with steplike metal-dielectric multilayer structures. Physical Review B, 2013; 87 (16) DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.87.165134

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/RFnsUhSDhLc/130429094646.htm

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Why the alleged Boston bombers' mom probably won't be extradited

Zubeidat Tsarnaeva may stay out of American custody because the US and Russia do not have a bilateral extradition treaty, despite efforts by Moscow to negotiate one.

By Fred Weir,?Correspondent / April 28, 2013

Zubeidat Tsarnaeva at a news conference in Dagestan, Russia, on Thursday. Her sister Maryam, right, is with her.

Musa Sadulayev/AP

Enlarge

The mother of the two Boston bombing suspects, Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, has become a focus of interest after it emerged that her name had been added to a key terrorist watchlist in 2011 and fresh materials, including wiretaps, handed over to the US by the Russians showed her "vaguely discussing" jihad with her elder son two years ago.?

Skip to next paragraph Fred Weir

Correspondent

Fred Weir has been the Monitor's Moscow correspondent, covering Russia and the former Soviet Union, since 1998.?

PHOTOS: Politics, press and stars mix at dinner

* Lewandowski scored four goals against Real Madrid * Poland international refuses contract extension (adds details, background) BERLIN, April 26 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski have not signed a deal, the newly-crowned champions said on Friday, shooting down widespread speculation of another imminent surprise transfer. "Bayern, as opposed to some reports, has no contract with Robert Lewandowski," the Bavarian Champions League semi-finalists said in a brief statement. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/photos-politics-press-stars-mix-dinner-035833191.html

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Extreme Block Party Offers Family Fun - Libertyville, IL Patch

Local businesses, pet rescue organizations and much more will be available during the third annual?Extreme Block Party Family EXPO and Taste. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.?this Saturday, April 27 at the Libertyville Sports Complex, 1950 Route 45, Libertyville.?

"There is something for everyone at this event," said?Carol Levin, public relations director for the GLMV Chamber. "There is a wide assortment of activities. There is shopping, music, food, business vendors, home contractors, pet rescue organizations and the Illinois Cash Dash where people can find out if they have unclaimed property or money."

Event highlights include:

Live reptile show at noon.
100+ local vendors all under one roof displaying local products, services and resources, including home improvement, health and beauty, landscaping, financial, educational, community organizations, automotive, and more.
Chance to win a $500 gift certificate from Steinhafels Furniture, and other prizes.
Free food samples by favorite local eateries, including Chili U, Culvers, Corner Bakery, Silverberg?s Deli, Silk Asian Tavern, Fine?s, WaPaGhetti?s Pizza and Sweets 4 U.
Cash Dash, the unclaimed property/monies search.
Live entertainment by Music Now DJ group.
Golf and fitness demos.
Storytime by the Cook Library.
Game Show Mania with former "Happy Days" star.
Raffles and giveaways.
Product demonstations.
Animal rescue pets.
Moonwalk and family activities.

"It is a fun, free day for everyone," said Levin.

Sponsoring Chambers of Commerce include: Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills (GLMV), Grayslake, Gurnee, Wheeling/Prospect Heights and the Waukegan Chambers of Commerce. People attend this event from throughout Lake County.

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are still being sought to help with the Block Party. People can assist with Parking, Set Up, Vendor Registration and Crowd Reception throughout the day:?

___ 7:30?9:30 a.m. ?Parking/Set up/Vendor registration

___ 9:30-11:30 a.m. ?Parking/Vendor registration/Crowd reception

___ 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Crowd reception/General

___ 1?3 p.m. ?General/Tear down
?
If interested, respond to?clevin@glmvchamber.org?with your availability.?

For more information, visit?www.glmvchamber.org?or?info@glmvchamber.org?or call?847-680-0750.

Source: http://libertyville.patch.com/articles/extreme-block-party-offers-family-fun

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Boxee Cloud DVR reaches the San Francisco Bay Area in beta

Boxee Cloud DVR has been active in only eight markets since its inception as Boxee TV, but it's at last time for the platform to spread its wings. As of now, Boxee's live TV recording service is up and running in the San Francisco Bay Area in beta form; owners just need to update their firmware to start uploading shows. While the company hasn't outlined its plans for other markets just yet, its target of 26 cities by the end of 2013 means that other areas shouldn't be far behind.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Comments

Via: GigaOM

Source: Boxee (Twitter)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/25/boxee-cloud-dvr-reaches-the-san-francisco-bay-area-in-beta/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Kale salad with crispy chorizo

Home for lunch? Looking for a quick and delicious dinner? Take inspiration from this simple salad, with smoked cheese, crispy?croutons, and chopped chorizo tossed with kale and vegetables.?

By Sarah Murphy-Kangas,?In Praise of Leftovers / April 24, 2013

Sometimes food is the last thing on your mind. Other times, salads like this come along and change all that.

In Praise of Leftovers

Enlarge

Editor's note: In Praise of Leftovers was nominated for Saveur's 2013 The Best Food Blog Awards. Check out the list of winners on saveur.com

Skip to next paragraph Sarah Murphy-Kangas

In Praise of Leftovers

Sarah Murphy-Kangas is a cook, writer, mother, teacher, and group facilitator. She lives with her family in Seattle, Washington. She started her blog, In Praise of Leftovers, as a way to share her kitchen exploits with friends and family and further explore her obsession with food. Her favorite challenge is to make something out of nothing.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Whether human or hyena, there's safety in numbers

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Humans, when alone, see threats as closer than they actually are. But mix in people from a close group, and that misperception disappears.

In other words, there's safety in numbers, according to a new study by two Michigan State University scholars. Their research provides the first evidence that people's visual biases change when surrounded by members of their own group.

"Having one's group or posse around actually changes the perceived seriousness of the threat," said Joseph Cesario, lead author on the study and assistant professor of psychology. "In that situation, they don't see the threat quite so closely because they have their people around to support them in responding to the threat.'"

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the study appears online in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

The study was inspired by MSU zoologist Kay Holekamp's research with wild hyenas in Kenya. Holekamp and her team played recordings of hyenas from other parts of Africa and found the hyenas listening to the voices were more likely to approach the source of the sound when they were in groups and more likely to flee when they were alone.

The research by Cesario and Carlos Navarrete, associate professor of psychology, was similar, only it dealt with humans and perceived distance of potential threats. In two separate studies of more than 300 participants, the researchers showed that people who are alone judge threats as much closer than when they are in a group.

Like most social species, hyenas and humans have developed adaptations over time to better deal with predatory threats.

"This is about evolutionarily significant threats, such as members of a different group coming to steal resources or attack you," Cesario said. "The cost of not responding soon enough to a threat like that could be death or serious injury. So seeing that threat as closer allows you to respond with enough time to spare. What our work shows is that having your group or coalition around you makes that kind of early responding less necessary."

The study dealt with racial bias and group threats. The participants, who were white, were assessed on how negative they were toward blacks and then asked to judge the distance to a black community, both when the participants were alone and as part of a group.

Cesario said the perceived threat can take many forms ? be it from other races, communities or even students from another university, as one nonrelated study showed.

"So this line of research has little to do with the makeup of the group ? whether it's members of another race or students from another college ? but more to do with the question of, 'Are you with me or not?'"

###

Michigan State University: http://www.newsroom.msu.edu

Thanks to Michigan State University for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127888/Whether_human_or_hyena__there_s_safety_in_numbers

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India's Idea Cellular profit beats estimates

By Swati Pandey and Aradhana Aravindan

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's Idea Cellular Ltd reported its fourth straight quarter of earnings growth, riding on strong customer additions and a court decision that removed some smaller competitors from the market.

Older companies such as top carrier Bharti Airtel and Vodafone's India unit as well as Idea have benefited from a court order last year that revoked permits awarded in a scandal-tainted sale, causing several smaller rivals to either fold up or cut back operations.

Idea, part of the Aditya Birla conglomerate, said consolidated net profit rose to 3.1 billion rupees ($57 million)in its fourth quarter through March from 2.4 billion a year ago.

Analysts had on average expected a net profit of 2.8 billion rupees, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Revenue rose 13 percent to 60.6 billion rupees at the company, which is part-owned by Malaysia's Axiata Group Bhd.

Idea, which said it would pay its first ever dividend of 0.30 rupees per share, ended the quarter with 121.6 million subscribers, compared with 112.7 million a year ago.

The company's expansion comes despite the mobile sector being dogged by regulatory uncertainty, including surcharges on existing airwaves owned by operators and the government's demand that they stop providing 3G data services through roaming pacts among each other.

Bharti Airtel and Idea earlier this year raised call prices by withdrawing offers and cutting discounts as they face higher costs.

According to StarMine SmartEstimates, which weighs analyst forecasts according to their accuracy, Idea Cellular is expected to achieve revenue growth of 12.8 percent over the next 12 months, higher than peers Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communication, forecast at 10.7 percent and 7.7 percent respectively. ($1 = 54.3762 Indian rupees)

(Additional reporting by Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Banaglore; Editing by Matt Driskill and David Holmes)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/indias-idea-cellular-profit-beats-estimates-132706012--finance.html

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Bomb suspects' mother has own legal woes

The mother of accused Boston Marathon bombers has continued to defend her two sons from her home in Dagestan, Russia, but if she attempts to return to the United States to bury her older son, or care for the boy that remains hospitalized, she could face arrest on an outstanding warrant for shoplifting.

The clerk of the Natick District Court confirmed to ABC News that Zubeidat Tsarnaev, failed to appear at a court hearing on October 25, 2012 to resolve charges that she stole $1,600 worth of garments from a nearby Lord & Taylor department store.

The family saga for the Tsarnaevs began when the two brothers, Tamerlan, 26, and Dzhokhar, 19, allegedly strolled through the crowd watching the finish of the Boston Marathon last week, dropped backpacks packed with explosives and used their cell phones to detonate the bombs, killing three and injuring more than 250. On Tuesday, the drama played out on opposite sides of the globe.

In Russia, the boys' mother professed their innocence, saying "What happened is a terrible thing. But I know that my kids have nothing to do with this. I know it. I am mother. You know, I know my kids. I know my kids. Really my kids would never get involved into anything like that." In phone conversations with ABC News, the mother has expressed her desire to travel to the United States. While she has left open that possibility, she has recently suggested only her husband might go.

In New Jersey, a lawyer for the two Tsarnaev sisters released a statement from the two women, saying, "we are absolutely devastated by the sense of loss and sorrow this has caused. We don't have any answers but we look forward to a thorough investigation and hope to learn more."

Meanwhile in Boston, the medical examiner reported that Tamerlan ? who died in a shootout with police ? had his autopsy completed, but no one had come to claim the body. Tamerlan's wife, Katherine Russell, released a statement through an attorney, saying "the reports of involvement by her husband and brother-in-law came as a n absolute shock."

Tamerlan's younger brother, who arrived at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with wounds in his head, neck, legs and a hand, had his condition upgraded to "fair," the hospital said Tuesday ? a sign he is headed for a recovery.

Some of Dzhokhar's friends sought to upgrade his image, posting an undated video on You Tube showing the accused bomber doing the robot dance with buddies on the wrestling team. They said his carefree attitude had convinced them the bombing plot was the brainchild of his older brother, whom he followed in lock step on the day of the marathon.

Boston Police Superintendent William Evans offered a more detailed picture of the manhunt for the bombing suspects, saying the hunt for the accused Marathon bombers was "personal."

"We never, never let up our desire to catch who was responsible," Evans said.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said over the weekend that authorities "hope he survives, because we have a million questions." Authorities told ABC News the University of Massachusetts college student has begun to answer some of those questions. He is reportedly telling investigators that the plot was, as some are suggesting, his brother's idea.

"The older brother appeared to be the more radicalized of the two and was the one that drove the need to conduct the attack," said Seth Jones, a counter-terrorism expert at the Rand Corporation. Authorities said the younger brother told the FBI that he and his brother were inspired by the anti-US internet preaching of the radical cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki.

*Even though the American-born al Qaeda figure was killed in a US drone strike more than a year and a half ago, his words apparently still have great power, condemning the US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, which the brother said became their motive," Jones said.

Tamerlan posted a video on his own YouTube channel, of a Chechen rebel leader threatening death to anyone who helps the infidels. That leader was killed by the Russians last year.

And it was on the Internet, Dzhokhar told FBI agents, that they learned how to make a bomb with a pressure cooker--all found in an Al Qaeda online magazine called Inspire. He told the FBI they never even tested the bombs before detonating them last week.

" What's disturbing about that is people are getting smarter about building easily manufactured bombs and then targeting sights in the US," Jones said.

Federal agents continue to search the Boston area for more bombs, but none has been found so far. One question that remains unanswered: What were the brothers planning to do next?

The man whose SUV was stolen by the two brothers as they allegedly fled the fatal shooting of an MIT police officer told authorities that he may have heard one of the suspects say "Manhattan" as they spoke in a foreign language.

The comment prompted a string of searches the next day, taking investigators to Connecticut as they looked for a Honda and searched trains. However, the search came up empty and it is not even clear the word was spoken by the suspects.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the victim "heard them speaking in a foreign language and may have picked up the word Manhattan, but that is not at all clear at this time."

Today, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said "No evidence they were headed our way. These stories were conflated with bits of information badly misinterpreted."

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

White House willing to consider budget flexibility

White House press secretary Jay Carney speaks during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April, 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The White House now says it's willing to consider legislation that would give the administration the budget-cutting flexibility to avoid furloughs of air traffic controllers.

Those furloughs could result in widespread air traffic delays.

White House spokesman Jay Carney says that if Congress wants to address the effect of automatic spending cuts on the Federal Aviation Administration, "we would be open to looking at that."

But he says that would be a "Band-Aid measure" that would not address other automatic cuts that kicked in March 1.

Back in February, when those cuts were approaching, the White House threatened to veto legislation that would give Obama greater budget-cutting flexibility.

At the time, the White House said it couldn't make dramatic cuts without affecting national security or hurting the economy.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-04-24-US-Obama-FAA/id-a65ee33630364220911d4da46c3750f4

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Workplace Collaboration Service Convo Releases Updated iOS App With Redesigned News Feed And Comment System

There are very few platforms that have are something that you use on a daily basis, let alone on a minute by minute basis. Team communication platform service, Convo, is one of those for us at TechCrunch. Today, the company has released an update for its essential iOS app, something that we use here quite often to communicate about everything you can think of. Since using the service, our team has generated over 100,000 interactions, averaging 1,200 of them a day, with 95% of our team present on the platform on those days. Its desktop version is completely in real-time, acting like a threaded IRC chat. The service overall isn’t without its faults, but it’s difficult to build team and enterprise software that can make everyone happy. One of the top complaints that we had was about its iOS app, which was lacking proper iPhone 5 and retina support, along with some general usability issues. Today’s app udpate is all about speed, commenting and a slicker design that will help you get through all of the threaded discussions your team is having since you checked in last. The feed This is the most important part of Convo, especially when you’re on the go. In today’s update, you’re able to scan and refresh the main feed quickly, and when you tap on the comments for any given thread, they slide over from the right. This is a huge improvement from the previous version, which loaded the thread into a new page: That update alone will save time, as you can jump back and forth between threads that you’re participating in and make decisions on whether to get involved in one quicker. Additionally, you’ll be able to “Like” things, which is a passive way of saying that you’ve seen something or agree with something, depending on how your team uses it. Images are also clearer thanks to the retina support and complete overhaul of how they’re displayed. Depending on how you use the service, images could play a huge role in the conversation that you’re having. If you’re having a conversation about a piece of artwork for your app, seeing images at the highest resolution possible are the only way that you’ll be able to make a decision on whether to use them or feedback that you might have for your designer. Cleanup and sharing In addition to the feed overhaul, Convo

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/4w3xNYT6Lxk/

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Charles Schwab website hit by outage

By Suzanne Barlyn

(Reuters) - Charles Schwab Corp's website and mobile applications experienced an outage on Tuesday, but at least the website was back up by early evening.

The brokerage company's website went down at roughly 3:45 p.m. EDT, said Schwab spokeswoman Sarah Bulgatz. Schwab did not yet know the cause of the technical issues, she added.

The San Francisco-based company said on Twitter that its mobile applications were also experiencing technical problems.

After the website appeared again to be working, Schwab could not immediately be reached for further comment on whether the problems had been fixed.

Schwab's outage coincides with a volatile day on Wall Street following sharp declines sparked by a "bogus" Associated Press tweet about explosions at the White House.

U.S. stocks recovered in a broad rally later in the session.

The outage also coincided with the release of Apple Inc's earnings, one of the busiest trading times.

(Reporting by Suzanne Barlyn; Editing by Steve Orlofsky; editing by Matthew Lewis)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/charles-schwab-website-having-technical-problems-cause-unknown-212048752--finance.html

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Charges dropped in ricin letters case

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) ? Charges of sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and others were dropped Tuesday against an Elvis impersonator from Mississippi who has said since his arrest last week that he had nothing to do with the case.

Meanwhile, in Tupelo, numerous law enforcement officers, including some in hazmat suits, converged on the home of another Mississippi man, Everett Dutschke. At around 11 p.m. CDT, they concluded a 10-hour search of the man's property and nearby ditches and culverts. Investigators declined to say afterward what if anything they had found.

No charges have been filed against Dutschke and he hasn't been arrested. Both Dutschke and 45-year-old Paul Kevin Curtis, who had faced charges in the case, say they have no idea how to make the poisonous ricin and had nothing to do with sending them to Obama, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and a state judge.

Referring to officials' questions for him about the case, Curtis said after he was released from custody Tuesday afternoon, "I thought they said rice and I said, 'I don't even eat rice.'"

"I respect President Obama. I love my country and would never do anything to pose a threat to him or any other U.S. official," Curtis added.

A one-sentence document filed by federal prosecutors said charges against Curtis were dropped, but left open the possibility they could be re-instated if authorities found more to prove their case. Prosecutors were not immediately available for comment.

The dismissal is the latest twist in a case that rattled the country already on edge over two deadly incidents, the Boston Marathon bombing and the plant explosion in West, Texas.

Curtis was well-known to Wicker because he had written to the Republican senator and other officials about black-market body parts he claimed to have found while working at a hospital ? a claim the hospital says is untrue. Curtis also wrote a book called "Missing Pieces" about his claims and posted similar language on his Facebook page and elsewhere. The documents indicate Curtis had been distrustful of the government for years.

He told The Associated Press Tuesday that he realizes his writings made him an easy target.

"God will get the glory from here on out. It's nothing about me. It's nothing about my book. It's nothing about the hospital. After 13 years of losing everything I have turned it over to God. After all these years God was the missing piece," Curtis said.

The two men the FBI are investigating are not strangers. Dutschke said the two had a disagreement and that the last contact they had was in 2010. Dutschke said he threatened to sue Curtis for saying he was a member of Mensa, a group for people with high IQs.

Since his arrest at his Corinth home on April 17, attorneys for Curtis say their client didn't do it and suggested he was framed. An FBI agent testified in court this week that no evidence of ricin was found in searches of his home.

Dutschke (DUHST'-kee) said in a phone interview with the AP that the FBI was at his home for the search connected to the mailings. Dutschke said his house was also searched last week.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take," Dutschke said just before 7 p.m. CDT, as investigators continued to comb his house.

Curtis attorney Hal Neilson said the defense gave authorities a list of people who may have had a reason to hurt Curtis.

"Dutschke came up," he said. "They (prosecutors) took it and ran with it. I could not tell you if he's the man or he's not the man, but there was something there they wanted to look into."

An FBI intelligence bulletin obtained by the AP said the two letters to Obama and Wicker said: "To see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance." Both were signed, "I am KC and I approve this message."

Multiple online posts on various websites that could be seen by anyone under the name Kevin Curtis refer to the conspiracy he claimed to uncover when working at a local hospital from 1998 to 2000. In one post, Curtis said he sent letters to Wicker and other politicians. He signed off: "This is Kevin Curtis & I approve this message."

Curtis attorney Christi McCoy said she doesn't know what new information prosecutors have and that the plot to frame her client was "very, very diabolical."

Curtis, dressed in a black suit, red shirt, necktie and sunglasses, said he met Dutschke in 2005 but for some reason Dutschke "hated" and "stalked" him. "To this day I have no clue of why he hates me."

Dutschke has maintained his innocence and says he doesn't know anything about the ingredients for ricin. Ricin is derived from the castor plant that makes castor oil. There is no antidote and it is at its deadliest when inhaled. It can be aerosolized, released into the air and inhaled. The Homeland Security handbook says the amount of ricin that fits on the head of a pin is enough to kill an adult if properly prepared.

Dutschke said agents asked him about Curtis, whether Dutschke would take a lie detector test and if he had ever bought castor beans, which can be used to make the potent poison.

"I'm a patriotic American. I don't have any grudges against anybody. I did not send the letters," said Dutschke, who was a Republican candidate for the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2007 but lost.

After charges were dropped against Curtis, he said: "I'm a little shocked."

Dutschke said his attorney wasn't with him and he didn't know whether he was going to be arrested.

Tuesday's events began when the third day of a preliminary and detention hearing was cancelled without officials explaining the change. Within two hours, Curtis had been released, though it wasn't clear why at first.

FBI Agent Brandon Grant said in court on Monday that searches last week of Curtis' vehicle and house in Corinth, found no ricin, ingredients for the poison, or devices used to make it. A search of Curtis' computers found no evidence he researched making ricin. Authorities produced no other physical evidence at the hearings tying Curtis to the letters.

All the envelopes and stamps were self-adhesive, Grant said Monday, meaning they won't yield DNA evidence. One fingerprint was found on the letter sent to a Lee County judge, but the FBI doesn't know who it belongs to, Grant said.

The experience, Curtis said, has been a nightmare for his family. He has four children ? ages, 8, 16, 18 and 20. It also has made him reflect deeply on his life.

"I've become closer to God through all this, closer with my children and I've even had some strained relationships with some family and cousins and this has brought us closer as a family," he said.

___

Wagster Pettus reported from Jackson. AP writers Holbrook Mohr in Oxford, Jack Elliott in Jackson and Pete Yost in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/charges-dropped-ricin-letters-sent-obama-005013342.html

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Monday, April 22, 2013

Farrah Abraham Brings Daughter, Dad to Sex Tape Negotiations

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/farrah-abraham-brings-daughter-dad-to-sex-tape-negotiations/

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MDs warn teens: Don't take the cinnamon challenge

CHICAGO (AP) ? Don't take the cinnamon challenge. That's the advice from doctors in a new report about a dangerous prank depicted in popular YouTube videos but which has led to hospitalizations and a surge in calls to U.S. poison centers.

The fad involves daring someone to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in 60 seconds without water. But the spice is caustic, and trying to gulp it down can cause choking, throat irritation, breathing trouble and even collapsed lungs, the report said.

Published online Monday in Pediatrics, the report said at least 30 teens nationwide needed medical attention after taking the challenge last year.

The number of poison control center calls about teens doing the prank "has increased dramatically," from 51 in 2011 to 222 last year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

"People with asthma or other respiratory conditions are at greater risk of having this result in shortness of breath and trouble breathing," according to an alert posted on the association's website.

Thousands of YouTube videos depict kids attempting the challenge, resulting in an "orange burst of dragon breath" spewing out of their mouths and sometimes hysterical laughter from friends watching the stunt, said report co-author Dr. Steven E. Lipshultz, a pediatrics professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Cinnamon is made from tree bark and contains cellulose fibers that don't easily break down. Animal research suggests that when cinnamon gets into the lungs, it can cause scarring, Lipshultz said.

Dr. Stephen Pont, a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics and an Austin, Texas pediatrician, said the report is "a call to arms to parents and doctors to be aware of things like the cinnamon challenge" and to pay attention to what their kids are viewing online.

An Ypsilanti, Mich., teen who was hospitalized for a collapsed lung after trying the cinnamon challenge heartily supports the new advice and started her own website ? http://nocinnamonchallenge.com ? telling teens to "just say no" to the fad.

Dejah Reed, 16, said she took the challenge four times ? the final time was in February last year with a friend who didn't want to try it alone.

"I was laughing very hard and I coughed it out and I inhaled it into my lungs," she said. "I couldn't breathe."

Her father, Fred Reed, said he arrived home soon after to find Dejah "a pale bluish color. It was very terrifying. I threw her over my shoulder" and drove to a nearby emergency room.

Dejah was hospitalized for four days and went home with an inhaler and said she still has to use it when she gets short of breath from running or talking too fast. Her dad said she'd never had asthma or breathing problems before.

Dejah said she'd read about the challenge on Facebook and other social networking sites and "thought it would be cool" to try.

Now she knows "it's not cool and it's dangerous."

___

Online:

Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org

___

AP Medical Lindsey Tanner can be followed on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/LindseyTanner

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mds-warn-teens-dont-cinnamon-challenge-044041555.html

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oliviertomie: Counseling Blog ? Blog Archive ? Grief Loss ...

A closer connection to nature help people cope with grief and loss as=
well as the grieving process .

Nature p=
rovides a reference for life and death . It tells us it is a natural phenome=
non . Nature provides us with physical evidence that life does go on.

Sitting in nature allows us=
to become aware of the infinite circle of life .

Nature has evidence of : decay , restoration, and rebirth . Natu=
re can put life and death into perspective .

Emotional support from nature can take many forms with plants , anim=
als , and natural landscapes .

Nature c=
an help recovery time , improved health and increased emotional and mental w=
ell being .

People turn to nature as a way of relax=
ing and enhancing well being . The outdoors can be a great source of inspira=
tion , guidance , and growth. Nature is a great remedy for healing.

Sitting at a beach , hiking in the mountains , looking at t=
he grand trees , scrambling over rocks and crossing a stream , being out in n=
ature is vital for healing and health .?

The s=
ounds of birds chirping , the beautiful colors they display , the way they c=
an effortlessly fly in the air and coast so gently with such ease .?

Looking at the ruins of fires in Arizona one can obse=
rve new growth and new life taking place . Nature shows its ability to survi=
ve despite disasters: fires, lightening , floods , and more .

Being on nature can help one clear their head from life?s stresso=
rs and demands . This clarity allows time for awareness and reflection so we=
can heal or make life changes .

Seasons change yea=
r after year and this is a constant reminder that nothing is forever .?=

During grief we all need to be reminded by those c=
lose that we have endured and be commended for the effort to face the pain a=
nd loss and tragedy and for coping with the intrinsic struggles .

Uncategorized.

Source: http://www.lifeworksaz.com/counselors-blog/2013/04/grief-loss/

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Source: http://oliviertomie.blogspot.com/2013/04/counseling-blog-blog-archive-grief-loss.html

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sheree Whitfield, Atlanta 'Housewife,' Says Her Mansion Is For Her Kids (VIDEO)

Sheree Whitfield, a former cast member of "Real Housewives of Atlanta," has been building her dream mansion -- Chateau Sheree -- for years. When Sheree and Iyanla Vanzant visit the unfinished home in a new episode of "Iyanla: Fix My Life," the reality star sees the structure as a beautiful property with great potential. Iyanla, however, has a different perspective, believing the home represents how many parts of Sheree's life are also incomplete.

As the two women walk up the long drive to Chateau Sheree, Iyanla asks the former reality star what she thinks when she sees her in-progress mansion. "I think it's going to be beautiful when it's done," Sheree says in the clip. "It's something that I did for my kids. For my family."

"Why is that for your children?" Iyanla asks.

"They need a home," Sheree answers.

But this home, Iyanla points out, is incomplete -- just like Sheree's marriage. "[Your divorce] is an incompletion," Iyanla tells her. "If you were complete with it, that would be one thing."

Insisting that she is complete with her divorce, Sheree explains that her only issues with her ex-husband, Bob Whitfield, stem from her dislike of how he treats their children. "I don't like what he is as a father," she tells Iyanla. "This [incomplete mansion] has nothing to do with Bob? It has to do with my kids."

Iyanla then tries telling Sheree how everything in her life is interconnected. "You think these things are isolated. You think that? you not being able to co-parent with Bob is about Bob," Iyanla says. "It's not, beloved. It's about you."

Watch the full episode of "Iyanla: Fix My Life" with Sheree and Bob Whitfield on Saturday, April 20, at 9 p.m. ET on OWN.

Keep in touch! Check out HuffPost OWN on Facebook and Twitter.

Related On HuffPost:

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: NeNe Leakes attends the 2013 Bravo New York Upfront at Pillars 37 Studios on April 3, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images)
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Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/20/sheree-whitfield-atlanta-real-housewives-mansion_n_3117990.html

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Friday, April 19, 2013

Swedish study suggests reduced risk of dementia

Public release date: 19-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail |

Share ]

Contact: Karolinska Institutet Press Office
pressinfo@ki.se
46-852-486-077
Karolinska Institutet

A new Swedish study published in the journal Neurology shows that the risk of developing dementia may have declined over the past 20 years, in direct contrast to what many previously assumed. The result is based on data from the SNAC-K, an ongoing study on aging and health that started in 1987.

"We know that cardiovascular disease is an important risk factor for dementia. The suggested decrease in dementia risk coincides with the general reduction in cardiovascular disease over recent decades", says Associate Professor Chengxuan Qiu of the Aging Research Center (ARC), established by Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University. "Health check-ups and cardiovascular disease prevention have improved significantly in Sweden, and we now see results of this improvement reflected in the risk of developing dementia."

Dementia is a constellation of symptoms characterized by impaired memory and other mental functions. After age 75, dementia is commonly due to multiple causes, mainly Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In the current study, more than 3000 persons 75 years and older living in the central Stockholm neighborhood of Kungsholmen participated. Of the participants, 523 were diagnosed with some form of dementia. The key members of the research group have been essentially the same since 1987, including the neurologist responsible for the clinical diagnoses of dementia. All study participants were assessed by a nurse, a physician, and a psychologist.

The result shows the prevalence of dementia was stable in both men and women across all age groups after age 75 during the entire study period (1987-1989 and 2001-2004), despite the fact that the survival of persons with dementia increased since the end of the 1980s. This means that the overall risk of developing dementia must have declined during the period, possibly thanks to prevention and better treatment of cardiovascular disease.

"The reduction of dementia risk is a positive phenomenon, but it is important to remember that the number of people with dementia will continue to rise along with the increase in life expectancy and absolute numbers of people over age 75", says Professor Laura Fratiglioni, Director of the Aging Research Center. "This means that the societal burden of dementia and the need for medical and social services will continue to increase. Today there's no way to cure patients who have dementia. Instead we must continue to improve health care and prevention in this area."

###

The study was funded by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS ), the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Swedish Research Council, and Swedish Brain Power.

Publication: 'Twenty-year changes in dementia occurrence suggest decreasing incidence in central Stockholm, Sweden,' Chengxuan Qiu, Eva von Strauss, Lars Bckman, Bengt Winblad, Laura Fratiglioni, published in the April 17, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318292a2f9.

Read the abstract: http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2013/04/17/WNL.0b013e318292a2f9.short

More about ARC: http://ki-su-arc.se/

For further questions, please contact:

Laura Fratiglioni, Professor of epidemiology
Tel: +46 (0)70 773 58 18
E-mail: laura.fratiglioni@ki.se

Chengxuan Qiu, Associate Professor of epidemiology
Tel: +46 (0)8-690 58 16
E-mail: chengxuan.qiu@ki.se

Contact Karolinska Institutet's Press Office: ki.se/pressroom

Karolinska Institutet a medical university: ki.se/english

[ | E-mail | Share ]
?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Swedish study suggests reduced risk of dementia Public release date: 19-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Karolinska Institutet Press Office
pressinfo@ki.se
46-852-486-077
Karolinska Institutet

A new Swedish study published in the journal Neurology shows that the risk of developing dementia may have declined over the past 20 years, in direct contrast to what many previously assumed. The result is based on data from the SNAC-K, an ongoing study on aging and health that started in 1987.

"We know that cardiovascular disease is an important risk factor for dementia. The suggested decrease in dementia risk coincides with the general reduction in cardiovascular disease over recent decades", says Associate Professor Chengxuan Qiu of the Aging Research Center (ARC), established by Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University. "Health check-ups and cardiovascular disease prevention have improved significantly in Sweden, and we now see results of this improvement reflected in the risk of developing dementia."

Dementia is a constellation of symptoms characterized by impaired memory and other mental functions. After age 75, dementia is commonly due to multiple causes, mainly Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. In the current study, more than 3000 persons 75 years and older living in the central Stockholm neighborhood of Kungsholmen participated. Of the participants, 523 were diagnosed with some form of dementia. The key members of the research group have been essentially the same since 1987, including the neurologist responsible for the clinical diagnoses of dementia. All study participants were assessed by a nurse, a physician, and a psychologist.

The result shows the prevalence of dementia was stable in both men and women across all age groups after age 75 during the entire study period (1987-1989 and 2001-2004), despite the fact that the survival of persons with dementia increased since the end of the 1980s. This means that the overall risk of developing dementia must have declined during the period, possibly thanks to prevention and better treatment of cardiovascular disease.

"The reduction of dementia risk is a positive phenomenon, but it is important to remember that the number of people with dementia will continue to rise along with the increase in life expectancy and absolute numbers of people over age 75", says Professor Laura Fratiglioni, Director of the Aging Research Center. "This means that the societal burden of dementia and the need for medical and social services will continue to increase. Today there's no way to cure patients who have dementia. Instead we must continue to improve health care and prevention in this area."

###

The study was funded by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS ), the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the Swedish Research Council, and Swedish Brain Power.

Publication: 'Twenty-year changes in dementia occurrence suggest decreasing incidence in central Stockholm, Sweden,' Chengxuan Qiu, Eva von Strauss, Lars Bckman, Bengt Winblad, Laura Fratiglioni, published in the April 17, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318292a2f9.

Read the abstract: http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2013/04/17/WNL.0b013e318292a2f9.short

More about ARC: http://ki-su-arc.se/

For further questions, please contact:

Laura Fratiglioni, Professor of epidemiology
Tel: +46 (0)70 773 58 18
E-mail: laura.fratiglioni@ki.se

Chengxuan Qiu, Associate Professor of epidemiology
Tel: +46 (0)8-690 58 16
E-mail: chengxuan.qiu@ki.se

Contact Karolinska Institutet's Press Office: ki.se/pressroom

Karolinska Institutet a medical university: ki.se/english

[ | E-mail | Share ]
?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/ki-sss041913.php
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Collins out as 76ers coach, will remain with team

Doug Collins durante una conferencia de prensa en la que anunci? su renuncia al cargo de entrenador de los 76ers de Filadelfia el jueves, 18 de abril de 2013, en Filadelfia. (AP Photo/Joseph Kaczmarek)

Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris responds to questions during a news conference where it was announced Doug Collins is resigning from his position as the team's head coach, Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joseph Kaczmarek)

Doug Collins responds to questions during a news conference where he announced his resignation as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team, Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Joseph Kaczmarek)

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins studies a stat sheet as his team plays the Indiana Pacers in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins, left, hugs forward Thaddeus Young as guard Jrue Holiday looks on before their NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? His eyes red and moist, Doug Collins explained how he knew in his heart the time was right to retire from coaching.

It wasn't, he insisted, because the Philadelphia 76ers face a painful rebuilding process. Or even because he felt unwanted by ownership.

The 61-year-old Collins simply missed being a family man.

When the emotional tug of five young grandchildren, and a son about to take over at Northwestern became too much to consider missing, Collins walked away. He resigned Thursday after three seasons as coach of the Sixers and will remain with the franchise as an adviser.

After coaching jobs with three other teams, Collins' days on the bench are over.

"There's a lot of things I want to enjoy," he said. "I think it's every man's dream to be able to live that life that you've worked so hard to try and live. That's what I want to do."

Collins had one year and $4.5 million left on his original four-year deal. Team owner Josh Harris said Collins will now begin a five-year stint as a consultant and expects to have his input on choosing the next coach.

Even as the losses piled up, Harris said Collins was not being pushed out.

"Why wouldn't you want a great coach to come back and be your coach?" Harris said. "But at the time, I respect his desires as a man. There's no resentment. I feel like we are going to build a high-quality organization and will attract a high-quality coach."

Collins steps down after a season so full of promise unraveled starting with the knee injury to center Andrew Bynum. The Sixers went 34-48 and missed the playoffs for the first time in his three seasons.

Collins was on hand at the team's end-of-season press conference, and said he considered retirement back in December, citing family reasons. He still wants to add his input from the front office, but he wants to be home, too.

"I think I've done a lot of good things for this organization," he said. "This organization is all I know. It's all I'll ever know. I'm going to be a Sixer for life."

The Sixers picked up the option on Collins' contract for the 2013-14 season in training camp and he said then he wanted to remain with the organization in some capacity when his coaching career is over. It's over earlier than expected.

"I don't want to ever have to drop my head. I didn't fail," Collins said. "Did we have the year that we wanted to have? Absolutely not. But a lot of that was out of our control."

None more than Bynum's health.

After losing Game 7 to Boston last year in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Philadelphia shook up the roster and made the bold move to acquire the double-double threat from Los Angeles in a four-team trade that cost them Olympian Andre Iguodala, rising star Nik Vucevic and draft picks.

Bynum never played for the Sixers because of bone bruises in both knees. He insisted from training camp he would play this season, only to shut it down for good on March 18 and undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery on both knees. Bynum earned $16.5 million this season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

"This is a team that could have been great," forward Thaddeus Young said. "It was built around the big guy in the middle."

With so many millions of dollars and rehab time invested in the former All-Star center, Harris said the Sixers are still interested in his return.

"A healthy Bynum that's playing is a needle-mover, a top-15 player," he said. "But the reality is, he didn't play a game this season. There's risk. We're going to weigh the positives and the negatives and try to make a reasoned assessment of what's appropriate for Andrew. Certainly we're open to the prospect of bringing him back."

Collins pushed for assistant Michael Curry, a former head coach at Detroit, to take over. Harris and general manager Tony DiLeo will make the final decision. Collins joins Julius Erving and former president Rod Thorn as paid consultants. There is no official team president.

Oddly, Collins never informed his players he was leaving, either as a team or during individual exit interviews Thursday.

Collins, a four-time All-Star with the Sixers, returned to the franchise in 2010 and led them to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons. A year ago, the Sixers eliminated the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in the first round and fell a win shy of reaching the Eastern Conference finals.

He guided a young Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls from 1986-89, and the Detroit Pistons from 1995-98. He coached Jordan again with the Washington Wizards from 2001-03.

His two seasons with the Wizards had been his only two full seasons in which he did not lead his team to the playoffs. He was fired shortly after Jordan was denied a return to the front office.

Collins worked for TNT after leaving the Wizards and received the Curt Gowdy Media Award at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his work as a broadcaster. Collins said the Sixers left the door open for him to return to the booth.

He averaged 17.9 points in a career marred by injuries. A knee injury forced him to retire in 1981, two years before the 76ers beat the Lakers for the 1983 NBA title.

His son, Chris Collins, was hired as coach at Northwestern earlier this month, after a stint as an assistant with Duke.

"I want to see him grow, I want to see him coach," Collins said.

Bynum is one of six free agents for the Sixers, who are devoid of any real assets. Jrue Holiday was an All-Star in his third full season and joined Wilt Chamberlain as the two players in the franchise's 50-year history to average more than 17 points and eight assists for an entire season.

Young and Evan Turner are solid players. But those two ? along with Holiday ? weren't enough to help lead the Sixers back to the postseason.

"I certainly see scenarios," Harris said, "where we're pretty good next year."

It's a stretch. Then again, no one saw the Sixers making the blockbuster move to acquire Bynum, so anything can happen.

"It's not a dire situation," Harris said.

Sixers fans can only hope DiLeo has it in him to pull off another deal for a superstar player.

Realistically, they should brace for the worst.

___

NOTES: Harris said the Sixers have identified a site for a new practice facility. ... He said the team is also in advanced discussions to buy a D-League team.

_____

Follow Dan Gelston at www.Twitter.com/APGelston

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-18-76ers-Collins/id-9d427083ea6241b1891e932393c5ad6d

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